Emerald Parure
The Emerald parure was a gift from Queen Regent Emma to her daughter, Queen Wilhelmina in 1899.
The original parure consisted of a delicate diamond and emerald bandeau with a figure eight motif topped with three oval diamond and emerald clusters 1), a necklace with pendant, a versatile brooch* with a pendant, a pair of bracelets and a ring. Queen Wilhelmina was not seen wearing this parure very often.
The tiara of the parure was originally topped with three oval diamond and emerald clusters. Two oval emerald clusters were removed in the 1950's to make earrings for Queen Juliana. The now somewhat bland tiara 2) has been worn upside down in an oriental style 3) by Queen Juliana and her daughters in the 50's and 60's.
In recent years the necklace has been worn with a large square emerald set in diamonds in the center. Queen Juliana and her daughter Queen Beatrix have worn these and other emerald jewels often.
For instance there are several other brooches and bracelets containing emeralds. Then there are different pairs of earrings containing emeralds.
In the 1970's then princess Beatrix was seen wearing earrings containing square emeralds (**) which were later also worn by her daughter in law Laurentien. From 2007 onwards Princess Maxima' s owns a new (versatile) pair of diamond and emerald earrings (***).
The last time Queen Beatrix wore the complete parure was during her State Visit to Bulgaria in 1999. Since then only parts of the parure have been worn by Princess Maxima and Princess Laurentien.
Recently the Emerald tiara was altered again. This time the two round emeralds which were originally set on the base of the tiara were remounted on top of the tiara 4). Princess Margriet was the first one to wear this particular setting during the Canadian State Visit to the Netherlands in 2005. Perhaps in future we will (finally) see the original setting * (with three prongs) restored as well?
Since 2003 the tiara of this parure has also been seen in a setting with only diamonds and pearls.
In recent years this tiara has become one of the most reworked pieces in the collection.
